Sewing mechanism



Oct. 28, 1930. MQLYNEUX 1,779,977

SEWING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 26, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 28, 1930. e. E. MOLYNEUX SEWING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 26, 1918 Oct. 28, 1930. G. E. MOLYNEUX 1,779,977

' v SEWING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 26, 1918 4 Sheets-.-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Oct. 28, 1930. e. E. MOLYNEUX 1,779,977

SEWING MECHANISM- Filed Nov. 26, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 28, 1930' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE E. MOLYNEUX, OI BAYONNE,

JERSEY NEW JERSEY, AS SIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MA- GHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON,

NEW JERSEY, A' CORPORATION OF NEW snwmg MECHANISM vApplication filed November-"26, 1918. Serial No. 264,138.

This invention has been developed with particular reference to its use in the super imposing accurately upon one another of the several parts of a shoe tip and of such parts upon the vamp and the presentation of the vamp and the parts of the tip to the stitching mechanism by which they are stitched together. The invention, nevertheless, is capable of general application to similar uses and is not to be understood as limited to the particular use which serves herein 'as an illustration of its general nature. The inven tion will be fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which it is illustrated, and in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine which embodies the invention, a portion of the driving connections being shown in section, with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a top view of the machine shown in Figure 1, partly in horizontal section.

Figure 3 is a view in section on the plane indicated by'the broken line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4. is a view in section on the plane indicated by the broken line l4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a detail view in perspective showing a portion of one of the conveyor chains and some of its associated parts.

Figures 6 and 7 are detail views illustrating particularly the devices for adjusting the positions of the conveyor pins in the middle links of the conveyor chain.

Figure 8 is a view in perspective, illustrating particularly the arrangement of the stitching mechanism.

Figure 9 is a view in perspective of one of the blank feeding devices in its relation to theconveyor chain. v v

Figure 10 is a detail view showing one of the releasing rolls and the means for supporting it and cushioning its, action.

The machine shown in the drawings asan embodiment of the invention is designed and arranged for the proper feeding o linings, doublers, vamps and tips, the positioning of each in order upon a conveyor, with the superimposing of one upon another in the order 50 named, the presentation. of each group of blanks or parts to a'stitching mechanism, the stitching of the blanks or parts together, and the delivery of the assembled and stitched parts. The machine is so designed that it is capable of automatic operation on blanks of different sizes and that different sizes may be placed in one magazine or container, it being necessary to provide only a small number of magazines or containers for all sizes.

The machine is provided-with a suitable frame a, on which are mounted wheels or drums b, c and c, which support and effect the travel of two conveyor chains (1, d and a third, intermediate convelyor chain (1'. The two outer conveyor chains (l, d extend the entire length of the machine and are composed of smooth faced or unarmed links d The intermediate chain 0? is composed of links d which are armed with pins a? capable of longitudinal adjustment in each link as hereinafter described. This intermediate chain d is made shorter than the chains (Z, the supporting wheel or drum 0' for the intermediate chain being set nearer than the wheels or drums c to the supporting wheels b, so that the parts or blanks shall be disengaged from the intermediate chain before they are presented to the stitching mechanism.

The machine can be driven from any suitable source of power. As shown in the drawings a motor e is suitably supported on the frame of the machine and drives, through a chain 6' and worm shaft e which engages a worm wheel 6 a longitudinal shaft 6, supported in suitable bearings carried by brackets a on the frame of the machine. Through gears e motion is transmitted to a short shaft (2, also mounted in suitable bearings. Through suitably proportioned beveled gears at e"-and'e the supporting wheels or drums b and a, for the conveyor chains, are driven at the same'rate of speed. The supporting wheel 0 for the intermediate chain is shown as an idler.

Presser chains 7 are arranged to co-operate with the conveyor chains d to hold the assembled parts of the tip together while they are being stitched and after they have been disengaged by the intermediate chain d'. These chains f are carried by wheels or drums f,

f suitably mounted above the work-table of the main frame, the wheels or drums 7' being driven so that the chains 7 shall have the same lineal speed as the chains d, d, from the shaft e by suitable gearing shown as comprising gears e", shaft 6 gears a, shaft 6, gears e and shaft 6 presser bar f is pressed yieldingly by springs against the lower member of each presser chain 7 to press the lower member of the chain f against the corresponding chain d for the purpose of clamping the parts of the tip while they are presented to and operated upon by the stitching mechanism.

The present invention is not concerned with the particular character of the stitching .mechanism employed, but a stitching mechanism suitable for the purpose is illustrated generally at g in the drawings. It is shown as comprising the usual arm 9, vertically reciprocating needle bar and needle 9, presser foot 9 and looper g. The sewing 'mechanism is intended to stitch the several parts of the tip and the vamp together with a row or rows of stitching substantially in the line of movement of the conveyor but slightly bowed. It is therefore mounted so as to slide transversely with respect to the line of movement of the conveyor, but to a slight extent only, on a suitable support g and receives its movement through a bell crank g and a rod g from a crank pin 9 The gearing 9 through which the sewing mechanlsm is operated, is arranged so as to permit the desired movement, the driving pinion g, which is mounted in suitable bearingson the support g, meshing with a wide pinlon g on the driving shaft.

Suitably located in proximity to the conveyor chains d, d, are the magazines h, h, k and h in which are placed, respectively, linings, doublers, vamps and leather tips, the magazines for the linings, the doublers and the leather tips being preferably mounted at one side of the conveyor and the magazine h for the vamps being mounted at the other side of the conveyor. These magazines are suited substantially to the shapes of the blanks or pieces to be received therein, but are not necessarily conformed exactly to such shapes, it being possible to place several shapes or sizes in one magazine. Whatever their shapes the general features of construction remain substantially the same. Such construction is shown in detail in Figure 9 and the description thereof will answer for all. It will e assumed that the magazine described is the magazine h which receives the linings. Such magazine comprises a vertical plate h, with a base If, guide pins h and a follower or movable bottom plate h, the linings h? being perforated and threaded upon the guide pins h. The magazine rests upon a bracket h secured to the frame, pins h being provided to position the magazine accurately upon the veyor bracket. The magazine has a dove-tailed projection h which enters a corresponding recess in the frame at 0, so that the ma azine is positioned accurately and held rigidly with respect to the frame of the machine. For magazines of different dimensions the projections or lugs 71 may be of different lengths for the purpose of placing the magazines diiferently with respect to the frame. Each magazine also is provided with an arm h" which supports a channeled guide h which effects, for each magazine, a proper positioning of the receiving pins of the conas hereinafter described. The channeled guide is preferably pivoted on its support and is held yieldingly in its central position by a spring h.

The blanks or pieces in the magazine are fed upward by suitable means which do not form part of the present invention, such means, as shown most clearly in Figure 4, comprise a piston and rod h in a cylinder k supplied with air under pressure from any suitable source, such as a reservoir indicated at h" in Figure 1. The piston rod is held from rising normally by a friction brake h which is released at the proper time by a releaser h operated through suitable devices by a cam or eccentric h, indicated b dotted lines in Figure 4, on the main sha e. As shown the brake consists of a pivoted plate perforated for the passage of the rod 71, and adapted to grip and hold the rod when lifted out of horizontal position by its spring indicated Through proper control of the brake the follower it" is caused by the air pressure to rise at each operation of the machine sufficiently to bring the topmost blank or piece in the magazine into position to be seized by the pickup 105 finger which transfers it from the magazine to the conveyor.

The pick-up and transferring devices may also be of any suitable character so far as the present invention is concerned, but preferably 110 comprise, as shown in the drawings, a suction finger i which is suitably connected to a vacuum system i in which a pressure vacuum may be maintained by a suitable suction pump 1?. The vacuum connectionsare controlled by 115 suitable valves, such as that shown, for example, at i in Figure 1, operated through suitable devices from a cam or eccentric i on the shaft 6* so that the vacuum in the connection to each finger shall be broken or restored 1 at the proper instant. Each vacuum finger is carried by an arm i mounted on a rock shaft i which receives longitudinal movement through a lever i from a cam i on the shaft e (see Figure 4). The shaft is rocked by a 12 lever 11 from a cam 11 on a short shaft i which may be driven through suitable gearing 2' from the shaft 6. In operation the pickup finger i is pressed down upon the topmost blank or piece in the magazine and, the l:

at the left of Fig. 4.

suction then being on, is raised and is moved I inwardly over the conveyor and again depressed to deposit the blank or piece on the conveyor, the vacuum then being broken so as to release the blank or piece.

In order that the blank or piece, when released by the pick-up finger over the conveyor, may be placed instantly in position on the conveyor, without the delay incident to the action of gravity, there are provided releasing rolls k, shown particularly in Figures 1, 9 and 10. These rolls are preferably double flanged in order that they may co-operate properly with the pins of the conveyor hereinafterreferred to, and are each carried by a yoke la, the stem k of which has limited movement in a tubular stem k and is cushioned by a spring so that theblow of the releasing device shall be cushioned. The stems k are carried by an arm 16* which is mounted on a rock shaft k The rock shaft is is connected to the shaft i by a cross bar A? so that it is reciprocated with the shaft 1' by the lever z" and cam i The shaft k is rocked by an arm k through the hub of which it slides, the arm k being engaged by a cam k on the opposite face of the disc which carries the cam i previously referred to. The releasing rolls k are lifted and reciprocated with the pick-up finger i so that they will not be in the way of the blank or piece taken up by the pick-up finger and when the blank or piece has been placed in position above the conveyor the releasing rolls are brought down with a quick movement so as to press the blank or piece quickly upon the conveyor.

The blanks or parts or pieces which are to be operated upon by the machine are punched with two holes, before they. are placed in the magaines, so that they shall fit accurately upon the guide pins h and be held thereby in exact position in the magazines and the pins h of all of the magazines used at one time on the machine have the same spacing. The holes in theblanks are so placed that in a finished tip they shall come between the usual two rows of stitching and far enough from the edge of the tip to be lasted in when the partially finished shoe is subjected to the lasting operation and shall not show in the finished shoe. It is necessary. of course. that the blanks or parts or pieces be placed accuratelyon the conveyor so that each part shall be superimposed exactly upon the one under it. The spacing pins a of each link (1 of the intermediate conveyor d" are adjustable longitudinally with respect to the link so that they can be spaced to conform exactly to the spacing of the holes in the blanks and since the guide pins k of all of the magazines used at one time are spaced apart alike, although the spacing may be changed for a different set of magazines, the first or leading magazine It of each set of magazines is made to determine automatically the spacing of the pins d and for this purpose such magazine is providedwith the tapered, channeled guide It, previously referred to. Each link d of the intermediate chain is slotted longitudinally, as at (i to permit the adjustment of the pins 03*. Each pin is secured in a plate or block d which slides in a recess formed in the, under-. side of the link (Z and the lower end of the pin enters a cam groove (Z in a correspond ing drum (Z which is fixed on a longitudinal shaft (2". supported on the underside of the link,'so that rotation of the shaft d effects movement of the pins toward and from each other. The shaft has fixed thereto an arm (1 which, in the travel of the conveyor, enters the flaring end of the guide it so that the shaft (Z is rocked to a position determined automatically by the position of the guide and the pins d automatically, as determined by the magazine used. to receive the blanks delivered from the magazine.

In the operation of the machine, the magazines having been filled and placed in posi-' tion, air supplied under pressure. power applied and a partial vacuum established, a lining is lifted by the corresponding pick-up finger from the magazine It, is transferred to position over the conveyor and is moved quickly from the pick-up finger to the conveyor by the releasing rolls k, the vacuum in the pick-up finger being broken when the lining is in position for a conveyor. The positioning pins (1* are sfiaced accurately to receive the lining in the scribed. The movement of the conveyor is continuous and the operation of the several devices is timed accurately by cams on the shaft 0*. W'hile the lining is being lifted are therefore spaced manner already de.

from the magazine and placed on the conveyor. a doubler is being lifted from the magazine It and transferred to position oy er the conveyor so that as soon as the lining reaches the proper position, the doubler is superimposed thereon through the action of the corresponding releasing rolls k. In like manner the vamp is superimposed on the doubler and lining at the proper time and the leather tip is superimposed on the vamp, doubler and lining. During-"the placing of the parts on the conveyor they are held in accurate position by the pins d of the intermediate chain d. but as soon as they have thus been positioned they pass together under the presser chains 7 and are held thereby on the chainsd, (Z, while the intermediate chain and its pins are disengaged from the parts through the passage of the intermediate chain over its carrying drum 0. 'hile the parts are thus held by the conveyor chains (1, d and the presser chains f, f, the stitching mechanism performs its function, receiving the required amount of lateral movement to make the rows of stitching follow the slightly convex edge of the tip. When the stitching has been completed the vamp with the lining, doubler and leather tip secured thereto is discharged from the machine. It will be understood that all of the feeding devices are operating continuously and that a lining is being placed at one end of the machine as the stitched assembly of the parts is discharged at the other end.

The machine will be varied in its details according to the specific character of the work to be performed and the invention, therefore, is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described herein, except as pointed out in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a conveyor, means for placing on the conveyor the parts to be secured together, pins carried by the conveyor to hold said parts in position while they are being placed, means to disengage said pins from said parts, means to secure said parts together, and presser devices .co-operating with the conveyor to hold said parts in position while they are being secured together.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a chain conveyor, comprisin two outsidechains and a shorter interme iate chain, pi'ns carried by the intermediate chain to hold in position the parts placed thereon, means for placing on the conveyor the parts to be secured together, and means for securing said parts together.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a chain conveyor, comprising two outside chains and a shorter intermediate chain, pins carried by the intermediate chain to hold in position the parts placed thereon, means for placing on the conveyor the parts to be secured together, means for securing said 'parts together, and presser chains co-operating with the two outside chains beyond the end of the short intermediate chain to hold said parts in position while they are being secured together.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a conveyor, means for placing on the conveyor in predetermined relation to each other the parts to be stitched together, a stitching mechanism, and means for imparting a limited bodily movement to the stitching mechanism during the operation of stitching.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a conveyor, a magazine for the parts to be placed on the conveyor, a pickup finger to engage the topmost part in the magazine, a cam and intermediate connections to raise and lower the pick-up finger, and a cam and intermediate connections to move the pick-up finger laterally to transfer the part from the magazine to the conveyor.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a chain conveyor, means for placing on the conveyor the parts to be secured together, adjustable pins carried by the conveyor to hold the parts in position, and means to adjust the position of said pins to receive said parts.

7. In a machine of. the character described, the combination of a conveyor, adjustable pins carried by the conveyor to receive the parts to be operated. upon, a magazine for the parts to be operated upon, means to transfer the parts from the magazine to the conveyor, and means carried by the magazine for effecting the adjustment of the conveyor pins.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a conveyor, adjustable pins carried by the conveyor to receive the parts to be operated upon, a magazine for the parts to be operated upon, means to transfer the parts from the magazine to the conveyor, devices carried by the conveyor for moving the pins to adjusted position, and a channeled guide carried by the magazine for actuating said devices.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a chain conveyor, pins mounted adjustably on each link of the chain to hold in position the parts to be operated upon, one of said pins being adjustable in position, a cam mounted on each link to effect adjustment of said pin, an arm connected with said cam to effect rotation thereof, and means co-operating with said arm to effect movement thereof.

10. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of a chain conveyor, pins mounted adjustably on each link of the chain to hold in position the parts to be operated upon, one of said pins being adjustable in position, a cam mounted on each link to effect adjustment of said pin, an arm connccted with said cam to effect rotation thereof, a magazine for the parts to be operated upon, and a channeled guide carried by the magazine and adapted to cooperate with said arm to effect movement thereof.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a chain conveyor, a cam shaft mounted on the underside of each link of the chain and having an arm, a pin projecting through the link and engaged by the cam shaft to be moved thereby, and. a channeled guide to co-operate with the arm of the cam shaft.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a chain conveyor, a cam shaft mounted on the underside of each link of the chain and having an arm, a pin pro jecting through the link and engaged by the cam shaft to be moved thereby, a magazine in proximity to the conveyor, and a channeled guide carried by the magazine to co-operate with the arm of the cam shaft.

13. In a machine of the character decarried by scribed, the combination of a supporting frame, a conveyor, a magazine having a dovetailed projection to engage detachably a corresponding recess in the frame, and means to transfer the parts to be operated upon from the magazine to the conveyor.

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a, conveyor, pins the conveyor to receive the parts to be operated upon, a. magazine for the parts to be operated upon supported adjacent to the conveyor and having guide pins, and means to transfer the parts to be operated upon from the magazine to the conveyor.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a conveyor, a magazine for the parts to be operated upon, said magazine having a movable bottom, means to transfer from the magazine to the conveyor the topmost part to be operated upon, means to press the movable bottom of the magazine upward with a yielding pressure, a brake to prevent the upward movement of the movable bottom, and means to release the brake to permit the topmost part supported by the movable bottom to move into contact with the transferring device.

16. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a conveyor, adjustable pins carried by the conveyor to receive the parts to be operated upon, a magazine for the parts to be operated upon, and means carried by the magazine for effecting the adjustment of the conveyor pins.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a conveyor, adjustable pins carried by the conveyor to receive the parts to be operated upon, devices carried by the conveyor for moving the pins to adjusted position, and a channeled guide for actuating said devices.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a conveyor, adjustable pins carried by the conveyor to receive the parts to be operated upon, devices carried by the conveyor for moving the pins to adjusted position, and other devices for actuating the first named devices.

19. In a machine of the character described, a, carrier, mechanism operating to assemble on the carrier vamp and toe tip blanks with their edges over-lapping, I gages for determining the position .of the blanks rier.

with relation to each other and to the carrier, and a sewing mechanism to which the assembled blanks are presented by the car- 20. In a machine of the character described, acarrier, mechanism operating to assemble on the carrier a plurality of parts of a shoe upper with their edges over-lapping, gages for determining the position of the parts with relation to each other and to the carrier, and sewing mechanism to which the assembled parts are presented by the carrier.

21. In a machine of the character described, a carrier, gages adapted to engage perforations in blanks to determine their relation to each other and to the carrier, and mechanism for assembling a plurality of perforated blanks 011 the gages.

22. In a machine of the character described, a carrier, gages adaped to engage blanks to determine their perforations in relation to each other and to the carrier, mechanism for assembling a plurality of perforated blanks on the gages, a fastener inserting mechanism, and means for holding the blanks in assembled relation during the insertion of the fasteners.

23. In a machine of the character described, a carrier, gages adapted to enage perforations in blanks to determine their relation to each other and to the carrier, mechanism for assembling a plurality of blanks on the gages, mechanism for with drawing the ages, and mechanism for holding the bla in assembled relation after the gages are withdrawn. 7

a machine of the character described, a carrier, means for successively placing on the carrier the parts to be secured together, gages for determining the position of the parts with relation to each other and to the carrier, means for disengaging the gages, means for securing the parts together, and means for holding the parts in assembled relation after the disengagement of the gages.

25. In a machine of the character described, a chain conveyor comprising two outside chains and a shorter intermediate chain, gage pins carried by the intermediate chain for determining the relative position of blanks for securing the blanks together.

26. In a machine of the character described, 21 chain conveyor comprising two outside chains and a shorter intermediate chain, gage pins carried by the intermediate chain for determining the relative positions of blanks assembled on the carrier, means for securing the assembled blanks together, and pressing means cooperating with the two outside chains beyond the end of the short intermediate chain to hold the assembled blanks in position while they are being secured together.

27. In a machine of the character described, a conveyor, a magazine having Spaced guide pins for the stack of blanks carried thereby, correspondingly spaced gage pins on the conveyor, and means for transferring individual blanks from the magazine to the gage pins. f

28. In a machine of the character described, a support provided with gage pins spaced to engage perforations in blanks to assembled thereon, magazines for stacks of blanks having similarly spaced guide pins, and means for transferring individual blanks assembled on the carrier, and means from each individual magazine to the pins on the supportf 29. In a machine of the character described, stitch forming mechanism, a carrier rovided with means for receiving a plurality of blanks of sheet material and for retaining them in superposed relation in position to be presented to the stitch forming mechanism, means for moving the carrier in an orbital path from work receiving position 10 past the stitch forming mechanism and back to receiving position, and means for causing the stitch forming mechanism to follow a predetermined curvilinear line on the work duringrits movement past said mechanism. his specification signed this th day of November, A. D. 1918.

GEORGE E. MOLYNEUX. 

